Quick Write

1. Quick Write You are the President of the United States. You are currently at war with the small country of Parzasia. Despite Parzasia’s small size, your war with them has gone on for 4 yrs and you have received heavy casualties because the Parzasian army will not surrender. You are deciding between invading Parzasia ,which will undoubtedly be a difficulty and bloody battle on both sides or using this new solar flare ray gun that can be used to shoot an enemy country from space. This weapon has never been used before and will probably annihilate the Parzasian’s will to fight as well as many innocent Parzasian’s along with them. This loss of life will be unavoidable if you use the solar ray and will have catastrophic effects on present day Parzasia and potentially future Parzasia. Really the effects of the solar ray are unknown. The advantage with using the solar ray is that it will prevent the United States from facing large losses. Another plus with using the solar ray, is that it could demonstrate to the country of Hazark that we have the capability and the “stones” to use such a devastating weapon. • Do you use the solar ray or not? What led you to your decision?

2. The Atomic Bomb Was it the right choice?

3. Essential Question What were Harry Truman’s motivations for using the Atomic Bomb against Japan in World War II?

4. The Situation • United States has defeated Japan in several battles in the Pacific Ocean • Island-Hopping has allowed the American navy to nearly reach the mainland of Japan • President Roosevelt dies while in office in the Spring of 1945 • New President Harry Truman must decide what to do next

5. President Harry Truman • 33rdPresident of the United States •  (1945–1953).

6. Manhattan Project • Name of the operation to design the first Atomic Bomb. • Lead Researcher: • Robert Oppenheimer

7. The Potsdam Conference: Summer of 1945 • Held in Potsdam, Germany (Germany had already surrendered) • New Big 3 • Stalin • Truman • Clement Atlee (new British Prime Minister) • Intended to establish goals for post WWII World • US and Soviet Union clearly will be strongest post WWII countries • Rivalry begins to emerge between USA and SU. • At Potsdam Conference, Truman’s advisors tell him that the atomic bomb was successful in a test

8. Potsdam Conference: Big 3 Atlee Truman Stalin

9. Why the bomb was needed • The Japanese had demonstrated near-fanatical resistance • With only two bombs ready (and a third on the way by late August 1945) it was too risky to "waste" one in a demonstration over an unpopulated area. • An invasion of Japan would have caused casualties on both sides that could easily have exceeded the toll at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. • The two targeted cities would have been firebombed anyway. • The bomb's use impressed the Soviet Union and halted the war quickly enough that the USSR did not demand joint occupation of Japan. • Congress had paid good money for it.

10. Why the bomb was not needed • Japan was ready to call it quits anyway. More than 60 of its cities had been destroyed by conventional bombing, the home islands were being blockaded by the American Navy, and the Soviet Union entered the war by attacking Japanese troops in Manchuria. • American refusal to modify its "unconditional surrender" demand to allow the Japanese to keep their emperor needlessly prolonged Japan's resistance. • A demonstration explosion over Tokyo harbor would have convinced Japan's leaders to quit without killing many people. • Even if Hiroshima was necessary, the U.S. did not give enough time for word to filter out of its devastation before bombing Nagasaki. • The two cities were of limited military value. Civilians outnumbered troops in Hiroshima five or six to one. • Japanese lives were sacrificed simply for power politics between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. • Conventional firebombing would have caused as much significant damage without making the U.S. the first nation to use nuclear weapons.

11. “Trinity”July 16, 1945

12. Fission Bomb

13. Fat Man and Little Boy “Fat Man” “Little Boy”

14. Decision Most of Truman’s advisors agree that the United States has three options…

15. Option 1Hold the Status Quo • Maintain control of all islands in the Pacific • Attempt to block Japanese port cities • Continue trying to negotiate Japanese surrender

16. Option 2Drop the Bomb • Could push the Japanese to surrender • Will inflict massive casualties on civilian population of Japan • Maybe criticized by the international community • Will not lose American lives in an invasion

17. Option 3Invade Japan • Has been the plan for most of the war • Could cost up to 1.5 million American soldiers’ lives

18. What Actually Happened? Option B Drop the Bomb

19. The Bomb • August 6, 1945—Hiroshima • Enola Gay (bomber plane) drops Little Boy • 140,000 died immediately • 100,000+ seriously injured • August 9, 1945—Nagasaki • Fat Man • 74,000 Immediate Deaths • 75,000+ serious injuries

20. Hiroshima During World War II • Hiroshima, Japan had reached a population of over 381,000. • Due to evacuations, the city population dropped to 255,000 at the time of the attack. • The city’s building construction consisted of several reinforced concrete buildings and lighter structures such as small wooden workshops and houses.

21. The Enola Gay dropped “Little Boy” • On August 6, 1945, the B-29 Enola Gay, under colonel Paul Tibbits left Tinian airbase in the West Pacific. • The six hour flight went exactly as expected. • The bomb was armed midway and clear weather permitted for accuracy.

23. Hiroshima Before The Atomic Bomb

24. Hiroshima After The Atomic Bomb

25. The Mushroom Cloud • 8:15 AM, “The Little Boy” was dropped over the center of Hiroshima • It exploded about 2,000 ft. above the city and had a blast the equivalent to 13 kilotons of TNT. • 70-90K instantly died • Due to radiation, approximately 152,437 additional people have died.

26. Nagasaki During World War II • Nagasaki was one of the largest seaports in southern Japan. • The city was important during the war because of great industrial activity. • Most residences and industrial buildings were made of wood. • Since the city had been permitted to grow without any strict zoning laws, most buildings and residences were constructed closely to each other.

37. Formal Warning to Japan • On August 10, 1945 thousands of leaflets were dropped over the city of Nagasaki The leaflets called for a petition to the Emperor of Japan to stop the war and agree to thirteen consequences of an honorable surrender. The leaflets called for a petition to the Emperor of Japan to stop the war and agree to thirteen consequences of an honorable surrender. Sample Leaflet

38. End of the War • Radiation Sickness • Affects many in the area • Emperor Hirohito tours cities • Japan Officially Surrenders • September 2, 1945

39. The atom bomb was no great decision. It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness. ~ Harry S. Truman

40. Task: • Read the various documents that support/oppose the decision to use the atomic bomb. • As you read, underline the facts/reasons to justify its use or don’t justify its use. • You are going to write a 1 page letter to President Truman explaining whether you think you should drop the bomb or not. • You must also give the reasons that you disagree with. • Should be well constructed • Well written • Contain facts to support your thinking.

41. Truman on Trial • You will either be a • Defense attorney (defending Truman’s actions) • Prosecutor (trying to get Truman in trouble) • Your task is to write a 1 page report to the jury explaining why Truman’s actions were justified or not. • Provide facts to make your claims stronger. • You also need to examine the other person’s side and refute their explanations.